Torque cylinder

ABSTRACT

THE TORQUE CYLINDER IS OPERATED BY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, AND COMPRISES A PRIMARY MEMBER WHICH IS MOVED BY FLUID PRESSURE AND IS GUIDED FOR SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT IN THE CYLINDER. AN OPERATING SHAFT HAS A REVERSIBLE HELICAL DRIVING CONNECTING WITH SUCH MEMBER. TWO SECONDARY MEMBERS ARE LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PRIMARY MEMBER AND ARE MOVED BY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE. THEY ARE ARRANGED TO DRIVE THE OPERATING SHAFT AXIALLY, AND A PASSAGE IS PROVIDED FOR CONDUCTING FLUID PAST EACH OF THE SECONDARY MEMBERS. TWO VALVE-CONTROLLED EXHAUST PORTS ARE PROVIDED, EACH CONNECTED TO THE SPACE IN ONE END OF THE CYLINDER BEYOND ONE OF THE SECONDARY MEMBERS. TWO VALVE-CONTROLLED INLET PORTS ARE PROVIDED FOR ADMITTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE SELECTIVELY AT EITHER END OF THE PRIMARY MEMBER WHILE THE EXHAUST PORT AT THE ADJACENT END OF THE CYLINDER IS CLOSED, IN ORDER TO ROTATE THE SHAFT BY MOVING THE PRIMARY MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE SECONDARY MEMBERS AND TO TRANSLATE THE SHAFT BY MOVING ALL THREE MEMBERS IN UNISION.

7 SEIJI KAWAGUCHI 3,610,107

TORQUE CYLINDER L19 IZIIZU Filed Aug. 18, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 In a E Q1 g N r n a 3 E 3 Q1 Q g g g e Q Q H 1% I s I Q a g k 5 Sheets-Sheet :3

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TORQUE CYLINDER Filed Aug. 18, 1969 5 Shouts-Shoot t an, 14 JJ 53 30 533 b: 1W

5, 1971 SEIJI KAWAGUCHI 3,610,107

TORQUE CYLINDER Filsd Aug. 18, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 209 206 202 2w III5- -5. 5

u IAVIIZTAI/A'IAVI/I United States Patent Oflice 3,610,107 Patented Oct.5, 1971 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The torque cylinder is operated byfluid under pressure, and comprises a primary member which is moved byfluid pressure and is guided for substantially rectilinear movement inthe cylinder. An operating shaft has a reversible helical drivingconnection with such member. Two secondary members are located onopposite sides of the primary member and are moved by fluid underpressure. They are arranged to drive the operating shaft axially, and apassage is provided for conducting fluid past each of the secondarymembers. Two valve-controlled exhaust ports are provided, each connectedto the space in one end of the cylinder beyond one of the secondarymembers. Two valve-controlled inlet ports are provided for admittingfluid under pressure selectively at either end of the primary memberwhile the exhaust port at the adjacent end of the cylinder is closed, inorder to rotate the shaft by moving the primary member into engagementwith one of the secondary members and to translate the shaft by movingall three members in unison.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a torque cylinder,and more particularly to a fluid pressure operated torque cylinder foraccurately controlled reversible rotary motion, or rotary motion andreciprocating motion.

A piston operating in a cylinder ordinarily does not undergo rotation,but only reciprocating motion. In order to produce rotary motion it isnecessary to control the piston shaft by means such as a key or thelike.

To rotate the piston shaft after or before forward motion, and whensuitable forward motion has been done to rotate the piston shaftreversely, has required very complicated mechanism heretofore. Tocontain this control mechanism in a cylinder it was necessary to reducethe pressurized area of the piston. And also, to obtain the desiredtorque required a large cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a pistonshaft is provided eccentrically on a piston in a cylinder, and thepiston shaft is operated reciprocatively, so that the piston isreciprocated by fluid pressure or elasticity of a spring withoutrotating the piston.

In the present torque cylinder, in which the driving shaft is locatedeccentrically of the piston shaft, a key for the piston is not required,and also the pressurized area of the piston is very small, and thecapacity of the cylinder is also small, and both rotary andreciprocating motion of the piston and driving shaft are made possible.

Further this invention provides reciprocating motion of the drivingshaft, and clockwise and counterclockwise rotary motion in apredetermined position, so that this invention may be used to bend ametal plate or tube, turn work around, or operate various remote controlclutches and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of a torque cylinder embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a second embodiment of thetorque cylinder, connected to a reversing valve.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are longitudinal vertical sections showing theoperation of the torque cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of a further embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the torque cylinder of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the essential parts in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first embodiment, shown inFIG. 1, produces rotary motion and reciprocating motion by means of afluid delivered under pressure.

101 is a cylinder, and 102 is a piston in the said cylinder. 103, 103are O-rings fitted in grooves formed on the outer surface of the piston102. 41 and 51 are closures which are inserted into both ends of thecylinder 101. 71 is a cylinder for a piston shaft 61 located on thecenterline X, offset from the center-line X of the piston 102. 81 is anO-ring which is set in a groove in the surface of the piston shaft 61.91 is a stem, on the right end of a driving shaft 110, which is guidedin a hole drilled in the piston 102 on the center-line X. On the rightside of this hole is a chamber 112 for a coiled spring 111, the rightend 113 of which bears against the base of the piston shaft 61, and theleft end of which bears against a base 114 secured to the right end ofthe driving shaft 110. An internal thread 115 is provided in the leftend of the piston 102, which end is of reduced diameter and is locatedon the centerline X. A cavity 116 is provided next to the internalthread 115. An external thread is provided on the surface of the drivingshaft 110, and this external thread is screwed into the internal thread115. 118 is an O-ring which is inserted in a groove on the surface ofthe stem 91 of the driving shaft. 119 is a hole drilled on thecenterline X through the closure 51 to receive a bushing 120. 121 is anO-ring set in an internal groove in the bushing 120, to maintain a sealwhen the driving shaft 110 slides in the bushing. 122 and 123 are needlevalves. Needle valve 122 connects the chamber 2a on the right side ofthe piston 102 with the cylinder 71 on the right of the piston shaft 61.The needle valve 123 connects the left chamber 2b with a space 19a onthe right side of the bushing 120. 124 and 125 are horizontal ducts forfluid which are connected by the needle valves 122 and 123 with theright and left chambers of piston 102. When a fluid flows into the rightchamber 2a of piston 102 and into cylinder 71 through the duct 124, thedriving shaft 110 moves to the left with piston 102 until the drivingshaft is stopped by a collar 10a. When the piston 102 continues to moveto the left the coiled spring 111 is compressed and the base 114separates from the left wall of the chamber 112. Piston 102 in moving tothe left then rotates the external thread 117 by means of the internalthread 115. When the left portion of the piston 102 strikes collar 10a,the rotation of the driving shaft is stopped, and forward motion of thepiston 102 is stopped.

Center-line X on the piston 102 and center-line X are eccentric to eachother, so that when driving shaft 110 is rotated by piston 102, thepiston 102 can undergo only reciprocating motion. When the pressure onthe fluid in the duct 124 is relieved and fluid under pressure flowsinto the duct 125, the coiled spring 111 expands, the driving shaft 110is suspended, and the piston 102 begins to move to the right. Thismovement brings about the reverse rotation of the driving shaft 110.When the base 114 contacts the left wall of the chamber 112, drivingshaft 110 moves to the right so as to return to the predeterminedposition without further rotation.

Next the pressure on the fluid in the duct 125 is relieved, and fluidunder pressure flows into duct 124. The above motions are repeated.

The stroke of the driving shaft 110 is determined by the travel of thepiston 102. The amount of clockwise and counterclockwise rotary motionand the revolutions per minute of the driving shaft are determined bythe angle of the internal thread.

In this device compressed air, oil pressure, gas pressure, waterpressure, or an electromagnetic drive may be used.

The second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D.This torque cylinder causes a shaft to rotate and then move forward uponactuation of a reversing valve, and causes the shaft to rotate in thereverse direction and then move backward upon reverse actuation of thevalve.

1 is a reversing valve which comprises a cylinder 2, in which a piston 5having ports in the form of grooves 3 and 4 is slidably mounted. Inlets6a and 6b and outlets 7a and 7b for fluid are provided on the uppersurface of the valve 1. Outlets 8a and 8b and inlets 9a and 9b areprovided on the lower surface of the valve I. Said piston 5 has anoperating handle K. The reversing valve 1 is of a conventional type. 11is a tubular cylinder, in one end of which is a closure member 12 havinga hole 12a eccentrically drilled therethrough. A bushing 13 is set inthe hole 12a. In order to permit the fluid to be discharged from theleft end of cylinder 11, a communicating hole 14 is drilled to intersecta discharge hole 14a. A closure member 15 having an eccentric hole 15ais set into the other end of said cylinder 11. A bushing 16 is set inthe hole 15a. In order to permit fluid to be discharged from the rightend of cylinder 11, a hole 17 is drilled to intersect a discharge hole17a. In bushings 13 and 16 a shaft 18 is pivotally mounted. At both endsof the shaft, within the cylinder 11, spaced holes 19, 19 and 20, 20 aredrilled. Said holes 19, 19 are connected by a communicating hole 21, andsaid holes 20, 20 are connected by a hole 22. Slidably mounted on saidshaft, in the cylinder 11, are secondary members consisting of smallreciprocating pistons 23 and 24. One reciprocating piston 23 has acommunicating hole 25 of which one end 25a registers with the end 14b ofthe communicating hole 14, and the other end 25b faces the surface ofthe shaft 18. Another said piston 24 has a communicating hole 26 ofwhich one end 26a registers with the end 17b of the communicating hole17, and the other end 26b faces the surface of the shaft 18.

A thread portion 27 is formed on the middle part of the shaft 18 in thecylinder 11.

An internal thread portion 28 in a reciprocating primary memberconsisting of a piston 29 is geared with said thread portion 27. Saidreciprocating piston 29 is movably mounted in said cylinder 11. Grooves30 and 31 are formed on the upper surface of the piston 29. On the upperportion of cylinder 11, inlets 32 and 33 are provided, to connect withthe outlets 8a and 8b of the reversing valve by suitable tubing. Andalso, said discharge holes 14a and 17a are connected with the inlets 9aand 9b by suitable tubing.

Consequently, when one turns the handle K of the reversing valveclockwise, the piston 5 is moved in the direction of the arrow (as shownin FIG. 3), so that the outlet 8a is joined to the inlet 6a, and thefluid flows into the chamber a1 through the inlet 32 and groove 30. Thereciprocating piston 29 is moved in the direction of the arrow (as shownin FIG. 4A) by this fluid pressure, and the shaft 18 is rotated in thedirection of the arrow (FIG. 4B) by movement of this reciprocatingpiston 29. The valve formed by the holes 19 and 21 opens as soon aspiston 29 engages the small piston 24, so that fluid then flows into thechamber a2, passing through holes 19 and communicating hole 21, opening25b and communicating hole 25. The small reciprocating piston 23 is thusmoved 4 in the direction of the arrow (as shown in FIG. 4C) so as tomove the shaft 18 to a predetermined position.

When one turns the handle K counterclockwise, the piston 5 is moved tothe right, so that the outlet 8b is joined to the inlet 6b, and thefluid flows into the chamber b1 through the inlet 33 and groove 31. Thereciprocating piston 29 is moved in the direction of the arrow (as shownin FIG. 4D) by this fluid pressure, and the shaft 18 is rotated in thedirection of the arrow (as shown in FIG. 4D) by movement of thisreciprocating piston 29. The fluid then flows into the chamber b2,passing through holes 20 and communicating hole 22, opening 26b andcommunicating hole 26. The reciprocating piston 24 is thus moved in thedirection of the arrow (as shown in FIG. 4D) so as to return the shaft18 to its original position.

In this embodiment, the driving shaft is located eccentrically of thepiston shaft, so that in this embodiment a key is not required for thepiston. This construction minimizes the pressurized area of the piston,whose thread portions control the reciprocating motion and rotary motionof the driving shaft.

The third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. This embodimentrelates to an apparatus, which can be used to produce only clockwise andcounterclockwise rotary motion or to produce clockwise andcounterclockwise rotary motion and reciprocating motion.

In the conventional apparatus, the shaft is driven from the movingmember by a relatively large screw so as to be rotated by the movementof the said moving member. Said moving member is operated by suitablefluid pressure, so that in the conventional method of converting thereciprocating motion of a moving member into rotary motion andtransmitting it to an operating shaft, a relatively large screw isrequired.

In the above mentioned construction, disadvantages have beenexperienced. One disadvantage is that it is very diflicult to convertthe reciprocating motion into rotary motion, because great friction iscaused by the screw. Consequently, in order to convert the reciprocatingmotion into rotary motion, great force is required.

One of the objects of this embodiment is to eliminate the abovedisadvantages.

In this third embodiment, the reciprocating motion is converted intorotary motion by means of a moving member having a comparably widehelical slot, and a rotary member which is driven by the action of thehelical slot. This construction easily converts the reciprocating motioninto rotary motion.

201 is a cylindrical casing having a flange 202 at one end, and havingan internally threaded portion 203 at the other end. An adapter plate204 is fixed on the flange 202 by screws 205. An inlet and outlet 206for fluid, an inserting hole 208 for an operating shaft 207 and aninserting hole 210 for a thrust bearing 209 are drilled in the adapterplate 204. 211 is a pressure plate which is mounted in the casing 201.One end of a bellows 212 is fixed on pressure plate 211, the other endbeing fixed on a liner 213 which is mounted on the adapter plate 204.214 is a moving member which is fixed on the pressure plate 211 by thescrew 215. An inserting hole 216 for the shaft 207 is provided in thecentral portion of the moving member 214. Two comparatively wide helicalslots 217 are cut in opposite sides of moving member 214. 218 is aguiding cylinder for moving member 214, having an inserting hole 219 inwhich operating shaft 207 is inserted, and having inserting holes 221for a driver 220. The said operating shaft 207 is inserted into theinserting hole 208, the inserting hole 219, and the inserting hole 216,and the joint between the operating shaft 207 and the inserting hole 208in the adapter 204, may be sealed by a conventional O- ring 222. Theshaft 207 is fixed by a set screw 223 to the guiding cylinder 218. 224is a bracket for the thrust bearing 209 which is fixed on the saidoperating shaft, this bracket 224 being located in the inserting hole210, provided that the operating shaft 207 is inserted into the holes208, 219 and 216. 225 is a keeper plate bearing against thrust bearing209. 226 is a closure which is screwed into the internally threadedportion 203. Coiled spring 227 is provided between the closure 226 andthe pressure plate 211. Said pressure plate 211 is returned by thecoiled spring 227 after each operation. Said driver 220 is piercedthrough the shaft 207, and both ends of the driver 220 projecting fromthe operating shaft 207 are inserted into the helical slots 217 and theholes 221. On the portions of driver 220 that pass through the helicalslots 217, rollers 228 are mounted.

When fluid under pressure flows into the bellows 212 from the inlet 206,pressure plate 211 is moved against the coiled spring 227. Also, movingmember 214 is moved, accompanying this movement of the pressure plate211.

The operating shaft 207 is rotated according to the movement of movingmember 214, by the driver 220 and rollers 228. The driver 220, beingpierced through the operating shaft 207, is guided in the helical slots217 by rollers 228, so that when moving member 214 is moved, operatingshaft 207 is obliged to rotate by rollers 228 and driver 220.

Next, when fluid is discharged to relieve the fluid pressure in thebellows 212, the pressure plate 211 is moved to the left by the coiledspring 227, and the moving memher 214 is moved in the same direction,accompanying this movement. And also, this movement brings aboutcounterclockwise rotary motion of the operating shaft 207. So, flowingin and out of the fluid brings about clockwise and counterclockwiserotary motion of the driving shaft 207.

Now it is apparent that the clockwise and counterclockwise rotary motionof the operating shaft 207 is produced by the helical slots 217, rollers228 and driver 220, so that when the reciprocating motion of movingmember 214 is converted into rotary motion of the operating shaft 207,the friction caused is so small that the conversion may be executed verysmoothly. High fluid pressure is not required to operate this apparatus.

The mechanism consisting of a driver 220 and helical slots 217 isuniversally usable in the present torque cylinder, and may besubstituted for the screw threads 115 and 117 in the device shown inFIG. 1.

I claim:

1. A torque cylinder operated by fluid under pressure, comprising aprimary member which is moved by fluid presF-ure and guided forsubstantially rectilinear movement in the cylinder, and an operatingshaft having a reversible helical driving connection with such member,wherein the improvement comprises two secondary members which arelocated in the cylinder on opposite sides of the primary member, andwhich are moved by fluid under pressure and are arranged to drive theoperating shaft axially, a passage for conducting fluid past eachsecondary member from the space between the secondary member and theprimary member to the space beyond the secondary member in the end ofthe cylinder, two valvecontrolled exhaust ports, each connected to thespace in one end of the cylinder beyond one of the secondary members,and two valve-controlled inlet ports for admitting fluid under pressureselectively at either end of the primary member while the exhaust portat the adjacent end of the cylinder is closed, in order to rotate theshaft by moving the primary member into engagement with one of thesecondary members and to translate the shaft by moving all three membersin unison.

2. A torque cylinder according to claim 1 wherein a valve controllingthe passage for conducting fluid past each secondary member is operatedby the operating shaft to maintain such passage closed until the primarymember engages the other secondary member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,562 7/1929 Sala et al.92-33 2,918,799 12/1959 Geyer 92-33 X 2,930,362 3/1960 Riester et a192-33 X 2,948,265 8/1960 Jensen et al. 92-31 X 2,955,579 10/1960 Block92-33 3,103,834 9/1963 Neukom 92-31 X 3,143,932 8/1964 Lanman 92-313,153,986 10/1964 Mitchell 92-33 3,165,982 1/1965 Taylor 92-33 3,183,7925/1965 Allen 92-33 3,457,838 7/1969 Rowe 92-33 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON,Primary Examiner L. I. PAYNE, Assistant Examiner US Cl. X.R. 74-25

